A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
